Tie-plate.



R. D. HAWLEY.

TIE PLATE.

APPLlcATloN FILED MAY11.1914.

1,210,309. Patented Dee. 26,1916. y

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ROYAL-D. 'Hau/"LEY, or 'sANrRANCIsCd Cnizrrjoiixiin, iisfsreivoia'ro yi?. & M.

COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION onintiNois.- i

'rrnfrriarn specification of Letal-'sentent pgtize'nfd Die@ 26, 1915 Application kinattivi-ay 11, 19:14. .l seriiivoxsezesv'.

Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tie-Plates, of

which the following is a full, clear, concise,V

and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

Wy invention relates to improvements in tie-plate anti-Creepers for railroad rails.

The Object of my invention is to provide a tie-plate which, in addition to performing its usual function shall be adapted to coperate with some form of anti-creeper so that the latter instead of bearing against the vertical side of the tie shall communicate the creeping thrust of the rail through the tieplate to the tie.

Subordinate objects are: To provide a tieplate for this purpose which does not differ greatly in appearance and weight from standard tie-plates. To provide a tie-plate of such Construction as to permit of great latitude in the type of anti-Creeper used therewith and to provide a structure which may be economically manufactured.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated two forms of tie-plate which will serve to illustrate the invention, which latter may, however, be embodied in various different forms.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a sectional elevation of one form of tie-plate. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of another form of tie-plate.

The tie-plate may be of any suitable Configuration. I have illustrated, as a form suitable for the purpose, a rectangularl plate l of more or less conventional proportions having a rib 2 at one side thereof against which the rail base may abut and having the usual spike openings 8. Said plate is provided with an opening or recess longer than the width of the rail base andwhich is preferably transverse with respect to the rail or at least has one or more transverse vertical walls. Said opening is intended to receive the downwardly projecting parts of a rail anchor or anti-Creeper, that is to say any device secured to the rail so as to move therewith when the rail creeps. Hence, the width of the opening and the general configuration Creeper per se.

Vthereof varyl within lwide limits. f lFor iiist V`purposes the length of the opening should be preferably .greater than the .width oftherail base as shown in the drawings. `I

ydo not desire to be limited to any particular type of anti-Creeper and, therefore, have illustrated none, the claim being directed to the tie-plate structure rather than to the combination of a tie-plate and anti-Creeper. The anti-Creeper, in whatever form it is embodied, is adapted to abut against one or more of the vertical walls of the recess 4f, whereby creeping in either direction is resisted. Furthermore, such engagement may serve, for certain types of anti-Creepers, to increase the grip of the anti-Creeper on the rail base.

It will be seen that the tie-plate is entirely independent'J structurally of the anti- This is an important feature, since the upward and downward movement of the rail is not necessarily accompanied by a corresponding movement of the tie-plate. The anti-Creeper, of course, moves up and down with the rail, but as the vertical bearing surfaces of the slot or opening in the tie-plate are sufficiently high to permit this movement, the engagement between the anti- Creeper and the tie-plate is maintained despite such relative movement. 'The opening or recess 4l may extend completely through the tie-plate as shown in Figs. l and 2 or it may extend only part way therethrough as shown in Fig. 3, so long as the desired result is attained of having a sufIicient bearing surface to insure the engagement of the wall of said opening by said anti-Creeper. In both forms of tie-plate illustrated, the plate is tapered at the sides, the opening or recess beingformed mainly in the portion of the tie-plate having the maximum thickness. This not only insures ample strength but provides the necessary vertical bearing surfaces about said opening or recess.

The tie-plates illustrated herein are very simple forms as far as the usual tie-plate features are concerned. Itis to be understood, of course, that various other features may be used in tie-plates embodying the present invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to limit myself to the details of the present disclosure except where limitations appear in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what -I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A tie-plate consisting of a rectangular plate having an area of substantial thickness beneath the rail base and tapering at the sides, said plate being provided also with a slot having a wall at right angles to the length of the rail extending completely across said thick area and beyond at both sides into said tapering areas, thereby providing sucient clearance for the jaws of an anti-Creeper to grip opposite edges of the rail base independently of said slot, said wall receiving the creeping thrust from said anti-Creeper, and a rib on one side of said l5 tie-plate against which said rail base abuts.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two wit'- nesses.

ROYAL D. HAwLEY.

Witnesses:

MCCLELLAN YOUNG, VICTORIA I. MATTHEws.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,1) (2.. 

